Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Fuck. I grit my teeth as I try my hardest to cocoon her and press her face to my shirt, trying to fight the smoke. I look back in the direction I came from, but I can’t guarantee getting her out without being burned. I look back at the small window.
A shotgun goes off, and glass rains down on us from the outside. I cover her, shards slicing down my back, as I realize Dawson must’ve heard us from the outside and is breaking the window.
I don’t even think as I look up and hear Dawson’s voice. “Bring her through.”
I stand, lifting her to the opening despite her best efforts to cling to me. Sweat beads down my face as I shove her through, and her weight slips through effortlessly.
“I’ve got her,” Dawson calls.
I cough, choking on the smoke, and push through watery eyes as I grab the window pane and pull myself up. I drag myself out, dropping to the ground. I’m scampering toward her within seconds, pushing Dawson out of the way so I can check her over.
“Alina, baby, talk to me,” I say desperately, my voice raspy. I’m not sure if it’s from the smoke or the fear that’s gripping me at the thought of losing her.
She coughs, then begins to cry, and I pull her into me, my heart pounding. “I’m so sorry,” I sob. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
She clings to me and tries to say something but can’t. I kiss her cheek, her forehead, every piece of her I can reach, hoping I can take away the smoke that’s filled her lungs, that I can scare away her monsters and the asshole who did this.
“Will,” she cries, as if not entirely conscious. “You’re bleeding.” Her voice trembles as her hand reaches out for me.
For the first time since I arrived, I focus on something other than her. It’s chaos as fire trucks and police cars arrive. Dawson is standing over us and is already on the phone with someone. I’m bleeding, and that’s undoubtedly a burn on my arm that’s aching, but I don’t care about any of that.
I cup her face, staring at her in disbelief. My hellfire vixen is shaking, and I only have myself to blame for underestimating the fucker who did this to her.
“Was he here?” I growl.
Her eyes go wide, and she knows exactly who I’m talking about. With the knowledge alongside it that she’s been my target all along. But she’s so much more to me. She is everything. At this moment, she’s the one person I can’t possibly lose.
“We’re going to have to check you two over for injuries and smoke inhalation,” one of the firefighters says.
“Yes,” I reply absently, my thoughts on only one thing—killing the man who did this to her. “Take her.”
“Will, no,” Alina sobs. “Let him go. He took everything. He has what he wants.” She coughs.
My eye twitches at the reminder that all this man wants is money. He assumed she’d childishly clung to the jewels he thought would bring him a fortune. Instead, he made the mistake of robbing my woman and hurting her.
“No, Alina. He does not get to haunt you anymore.”
“Please,” she whispers. “I don’t know what he’s on right now, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”
My heart sinks, but a cruel smile curves my lips. Because she has no idea how dangerous the man she thought was just a fuck buddy is. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone more, not since I’d hunted down Hayley’s killers. And make no mistake, this asshole is going to pay tenfold.
“I’ll come back to you. I promise.” I kiss her on the lips. “Watch over her!” I shoot the demand at Dawson.
“Where are you going?” I hear him shout, but from my expression alone I’m sure it doesn’t take him long to figure it out.
I’m going to hunt the monster who thought he could touch my woman.
CHAPTER 46
Will
He hasn’t gone far. In fact, he sits between two of his men at a bar, singing his praises. He’s a fucking moron, and it was my mistake not to take his threats seriously. I should’ve tied him up like a loose end the moment I decided to protect Alina and not hand her over to him.
Not many people are in the bar, but they make way for me when they notice my expression. The room goes quiet, and a waitress scurries out of my way.
“I said give us another fucking drink!” the man yells to the bartender.
I step up behind them and loom over them like a deadly god. I’m not thinking clearly—only seeing the tears streaming down Alina’s face—as I grab both of his men by the back of their heads and smash them forward into the bar.
The moment Jack Percy pulls out his gun, I smack it out of his hand and grab him by the collar.